Salazar and Osoro Survive Three-Setter in Her Farewell Madrid Run

Alejandra Salazar and Aranzazu Osoro needed more than two hours to escape the first round of the Comunidad de Madrid Premier Padel P1 on Wednesday, beating Leti Manquillo and Lucia Martinez 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 at the Movistar Arena.

The result matters more than usual. Salazar, the most decorated player in women's padel history, has said 2026 will be her last season as a professional. This week's P1 is her final tournament in her home city before she retires, and Manquillo and Martinez made her work for every point of it.

A Tight Opener

Martinez and Manquillo took the first set to a tiebreak scenario before Salazar and Osoro closed it out 6-3. The challengers responded by leveling the match 6-3 in the second set, forcing a decider. Salazar and Osoro settled the match in the third set, closing it out 6-3 to advance.

Next Up: Rufo and Iglesias

Salazar and Osoro move into the round of 16, where they face Lorena Rufo and Victoria Iglesias, who needed three sets themselves to beat Lucia Sainz and Sofia Saiz 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 on the same day. That match is scheduled for Thursday at the Movistar Arena.

A Farewell Season

Madrid organizers plan to hold a tribute for Salazar on September 6, between the women's and men's finals, marking the end of her run in the city where she has played for two decades. She has said she would like to add a World Championship title in November before she closes out her career for good.

For now, the focus is the court in front of her. A three-set survival act is exactly the kind of match she has built a career on.